Venetian blind



Dec. 25, 1945. KASAN 2,391,709

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L 0 It is Kas-a INVENTOR,

ATT NEY Dec. 25, 1945. KASAN 2,391,709

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 27, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L ouis Kasaa INVENTOR A RNEY Dec. 25, 1945. L. KASAN 2,391,709

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 2'7, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7- ATt/Rfi Y Dec. 25, 1945. 1.. KASAN 2,391,709

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 27; 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Louis jrasaei Q ATT RNEY Dec. 25, 1945. KASAN 2,391,709

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L 0 uiS Ka s an INvENToR AT RNEY Fatented @ee. 25, E945 astute @ETQ S$ATES ATENT @FFEQE VENETIAN BLIND Louis Kasan, New York, N. Y.

Application August 27, 1943, Serial No. 500,231

12 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds. The installation of these blinds consumes enormous labor and time, due to the vast multiplicity of its parts and the required amounts of fastenings, flttings, and assemblages of said parts to conform to windows of various dimensions.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved blind of this type which may be prefabricated so as to remedy the above mentioned serious objection, which will permit the dealer, maker, and installer to furnish the blind with improved efficiency, greater dispatch, and reduced cost.

Another object is to provide an improved blind of this type which is conveniently and economically manufacturable, conveniently installable, conveniently and eiiiciently utilizable and manipulable, strong, durable, and affording means for maintaining the slats and other parts thereof in clean and sanitary condition.

Another object is to provide an improved blind of this type with simplified, reliable, and efilcient means for elevating and lowering its slats, opening, closing, or tiltingly adjusting the latter, and affording improved means for replacement of damaged parts of the blind.

A further object is to provide a Venetian blind having improved means for adjusting the parts thereof laterally for installation on windows of various widths.

A still further object is to provide a Venetian blind with improved means whereby upon being drawn downwardly it may be effectively locked to its window, to prevent entry therethrough.

A still further object is to provide a, Venetian blind with improved means wherewith it may be installed upon the exterior side of a window and thereat serve as an awning. v

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the Venetian blind of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same blind, showing a part thereof in a cross-section taken on the lines 2-2 of Fi 1, both of these figures being shown broken away midway for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tilting mechanism for the slats of the blind.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the lifting, lowering, and adjusting mechanism of the blind.

Figs. 5 to 12 inclusive show details and modifications of details of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a front elevatlonal view showing a Venetian blind which is a modification of the invention.

Fig. 14 is an elevational side view of the blind shown in Fig. 13.

Figs. 15 and 16 are perspective views of details of the invention, applicable to the modification shown in Figs. 13, 14.

Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive are perspective views showing modifications of the details illustrated in Figs. 15, 16.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a prefabricated roll, consisting ofan endless preassembled pair of slat-tilting tapes together with slat receiving and adjusting devices.

Fig. 22 is aperspective view, in an enlarged secured by screws e to the upper end of the win-' dow-frame l. The blind proper comprises a set of slats 8, supported by cords 9, Figs. 2, 6. 7, and elevatingly foldable and lowerable by operating ropes it. The terminal of one of said ropes Ida is secured to the left end (as viewed in Fig. 2i oi the lowermost or base slat 8a, and the terminal of the other rope illb is secured to the right end of said slat. Rope Illa extending therefrom upwardly passes through maintaining and guiding slots ll (Figs. 6, 7) of slats 8 over to and around an operating pulley l2 supported by the housing 2, over to and around a pulley IS in the housing 3, over to and around pulleys It, I5 in said housing, and from the latter pulleys downwardly, forming part of a loop illc. Rope lob extends similarly from the right end of base-slat 8a through slots ll, over to and around a pulley it supported by the housing 3, over to and around pulleys l1, it in said housing, and from the latter pulleys downwardly, forming part of and completing the same loop l0c. Drawing downwardly of the combined rope-loop lflc, therefore, liftingly folds up the slats 8 of the blind in the required manner, while releasing said loop correspondingly lowers the blind. In housing 3, below and in alignment with the pulleys l5, I8, is securingly located a fitting l9 comprising a wall 20 and side walls 2!, the latter having registering oblique slots 22 in which is slidable a roller 23.

When the rope-loop ||lc is drawn downwardly and released for operation of the blind, the roller 23 drops downwardly to the bottom of slots 22, without interfering with the ropes or in any way effecting the operation, but when the user releases the rope-loop I and simultaneously draws it away from the window toward himself the ropes bear upon the roller 23, causing it to slide upwardly to the position shown, and to bind the ropes between it and the wall 20, by the pullin action of the blind on the ropes ID, in which manner the blind is locked in any adjusted position.

The supporting and tilting cords 9, Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, comprise rear ones So that are joined to the slats 8, 8a with their terminals secured to hooks 24 of housings 2, 3, a front left-hand one 9?) similarly joined to said slats and extending therefrom through an eye 25 of housing 2 with its terminal secured at 26 to a drum 21 rotatably mounted in said housing, Figs. 1, 3, and a righthand one 90 joined to said slats and extending,

therefrom around a pulley 28 depending from housing 3 and from the latter to the drum 21, to which it is secured at 29. The drum 21 is rotatably mounted in the housing 2 by means of terminal pins 30 thereof one of which is insertible in a hole 3| of the housing and the other in a downwardly curved slot 32, Fig. 5, of a fittting 33 secured to the housing, in which manner the drum 21 may be conveniently mounted upon and removed from the housing 2 in the assemblage and repair of the mechanism. The drum 21 carries a toothed wheel 34 meshing with a worm 35, rotatably mounted in housing 2 and carrying a sheave 36, from which is suspended an operating tilting rope 38. Pulling upon the rope sections 38a rotates the sheave 36, worm 35, and

I wheel 34 to accordingly rock or rotate the drum 21, which thereby draws upon the supporting ropes 9b. 90 to tilt the slats 8, 8a in required manner for Venetian blind operation, to partially or fully open or close the slats.

The cords 9 are hingedly joined to the slats 8, Figs. 6, 7, by means of fittings 4|, each of which consists of a metallic bar a portion 42 of which is secured to said cord by bin'dingly embracing it and its remainder 43 is formed as a hook that engagingly passes through a registering hole 44 in the slat 8. According to the modification shown in Fig. 7, the hook 43 is provided with an elongated shank 45 hearing against the cord 9 and being secured thereto by means of prongs 46 thereof piercing the cord with its terminals 41 biting thereinto as shown. An advantage residing in this modification is that when any cordsection between slats collapses in the folding action it is compelled to fold outwardly, as illustrated by the dash and dot lines, due to the laterally pressing tendency existing upon its inner side which carries the shank 45.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8, 9, the supporting cord 9 and slat 8 are secured to each other by the former passing through a hole 48 of the latter, and edges 49 of said hole binding and biting into the cord, as illustrated. According to the modification illustrated in Fig. 12, the cord 9 is substituted by a chain so adapted that a pair of links 52, 53 thereof extend between each adjoining pair of slats 8, and the lower link 53 of said pair has integral therewith a hook 54 that engages a hole 55 in the slat.- Like in :the modification in Fig. 7, the collapsing of the chain 5| in the folding action of the slats 8 its a links 52, 53 fold outwardly, ,as illustrated by the dash. and dot lines, due to the upward turning tendency imparted to the hook by the upwardly actuated slat 8 occurring in thelifting of the blind, and a propection 52a from link 52 normally abutting against link 53 at all times preventing both of said links from folding inwardly.

' Each terminal of each slat 8 is provided with a marginal slit 56, Fig. 10, leading into the guiding slot for lifting rope I 0, and a gate plate 51 hinged to the slat at 58 is swingable from a position shown, of closing gap 56, to an outlocation indicated by the dash and dot lines, by which means the rope I0 and slat 8 may be conveniently assembled and disassembled. The plate 51 may be conveniently locked in the closed position shown by a snap lock 59. Should any one of the slats 8 become damaged in the assembled installed blind, it may be thus conveniently replaced by removing it from the ropes 9 and re newing it with another slat.

The window area between the housings 2, 3,

Fig. 2, is covered by a facia 68, Figs. 3, 4, comprising a pair of plates 89 that intertelescope with each other to provide for installation on windows of various widths, wherein the distance between said housings varies correspondingly, and the facia is held on the housings by pronged portions 10 thereof slipping over projections 1| of the housings 2,

While the Venetian blind heretofore described is adaptable for indoor installation, 'the blind shown in the modification of Figs. 13 to 16 is preferable for installing outdoors or upon the exterior side of the window sashes. From the housings 2, 3 extend hollow guides 15 that are secured to the building and have hinged thereto at 18 similar guides 11 that are swingable therea-bout as shown in Fig. 14, and are joined to each other by a cross bar 18. Each end of each slat 8 is provided with a fitting 60 in which it is longitudinally slidable as shown in Fig. 16 to adjust the slats and blind to windows of various widths. Each fitting 60 is in turn provided with a projecting pin 19 carrying a sleeve 80, Fig. 15, slidable in slots 8| of guides 15, 11, Figs. 13, 14, and said .pin carries a plate 6| located within the guide. The plate 6| is provided-with a guiding slot 83 for a lifting and lowering rope I0 extending through the guides 15, 11 to the mechanism in the housings 2, 3, and said plate is secured in manner shown to supporting tapes 62 likewise extending through said guides to said mechanism, the features for tilting the slats and those for elevating and lowering them being similar to those used in connection with the Venetian blind of Figs. 1, 2, and this blind being therefore operable in all requisite respects in a similar manner. Links 83, 84, Fig. 14, pivoted to each other at 85, to the guides 11 at 86, and to the building at 81 may be extended to the position shown to retain said guides and blind portion thereof obliquely in manner of an awning, to permit maximum ventilation through the open window while the blind is drawn in said guides with its slats tilted to exclude sunshine or rain. Said links may be folded up asshown in the dash and dot lines, to permit swinging back the guides 11 about hinge 16 to closed position in alignment with the guides 15. In this position of the guides 11, a pair of hooks 88 secured thereto may be engaged with eyes 89 secured to the building, for locking the guides and drawn blind thereof securely to prevent an intruder from entering the building through the window. As the disposing of the guides 11 obliquely creates a gap 98, Fig. 14, be-

'tween it and guides 15 at hinge 16, which gap might interfere with passage thereat of the plates 6|, ropes l0, and tapes 82, there is secured to each guide 11 a flexible band 92 which bears upon the interior, of the wall of guide 15, whereby said band serves as a closure for said gap. '-A hook "a pivotally secured to the endmost slat 8 at llb is cngageable with an eye 88c fastened upon the interior side of the building, to prevent an intruder from raising the slats- 8 when the guide I1 is in locked state. Y

In Fig. 16 the fitting an is shown as constituting a practical extension of the slat 8 proper at each end thereof, and they are held together and relaslat being thereby adjustable in length to windows of various widths and being maintained in such adjusted position by the frictional contact of the slat with said extension fittings. In the modification shown in Figs. 17, 18, 19, the slat 8 and fittings 60 are positively interlocked to each other, by a series of tongues 93 of the latter penetrating registering apertures 94 of the former, Figs. 18, 19, and the tongues 93 being bent down against the slat as shown in Fig. 17.

According to the modification shown in Fig. 20, an extension fitting S is adapted to receive a wooden slat 8, and is applicable for use in connection with the terminals of the slats in Venetian blinds shown in Figs. 1, 2. Said fitting comprises a plate 95 having guiding ribs 98 for slat 8 and a plate portion 91 which may be sprung away as shown to receive the slat and may be pressed back against the slat, as indicated by the dash and dot lines. A locking detent 98 having a strap 99 and pivoted at I00 may be then swung over to cause the portion IBI thereof to overlap the portion I02 of plate 91 and thereby lock it in pressing contact with'the slat 8, as shown by the dash and dot lines. The plate portion 91 is provided with graduated apertures Hi3 to serve as indicating means for the adjustment of the overall length of the slat to windows of various widths.

Should the slats 8 be overlong and hence tend to sag, additional support may be imparted thereto by means of auxiliary tapes 62b, Fig. 11, said tape being provided with cleats 820 which grasp each slat and secure it thereto, while the upper terminal of tape 62b is secured in place in the manner described in connection with the tapes 82. Further support may be imparted to the slat 8 against sagging by providing each of the fittings 60d with an elongated extension tongue 60c, which bears against the undersideof the slat, as illustrated.

The prefabrication and preassemblage of the Venetian blind parts, for use by dealers and installers in the making of blinds for various sized windows, is performed by utilizing tapes 52, Fig. 22, of indefinite length, and thereto securing series of extension fittings 601, as shown. A long line of such assembly is collapsed in form shown at I05, Fig. 22, and is rolled up in form of a disk, Fig. 21, in which condition it is furnished by the factory to the installing trade. The installer may then sever lengths ill! by unwinding the roll M16, as required by the blinds, and may join the severed assemblies with slats and other parts for making the Venetian blinds.

The supporting and tilting tapes 62 are secured to the base slat 8a, Figs. 23, 24, 25, by embracing the slat with a strap I08 provided with buckles I09. All that is required, therefore, is

inserting the tape terminals 62a between the buckle-teeth H0 and strap lll8'and to swing the buckle levers Ill into biting position with the apes.

In a similar manner, the secured ends of the tapes 82 may be attached to the housin s 2, 3, Fig. 26, instead of resorting to the hooks 24 in Figs. 3, 4, by providing said housings with buckles I09 andtherewith fastening the tapes 62 as shown.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A Venetian blind having the combination of a blind-functioning slat, a supporting cord for said slat, said slat having an opening, and the edges of said opening being forced into said cord for securing said slat to said cord.

2. A Venetian blind having the combination of blind-functioning slats, means for supporting said slats including suspenders secured to one side of said slats, suspenders secured to the opposite sides of said slats, a rotatable element mounted above and at one side of the blind, one of said opposite side suspenders being secured to said rotatable element, said other oppositeside suspender having guiding means at the opposite side of the blind and extending therefrom to said rotatable element and being secured to said element, said rotatable element carrying a wheel, a worm meshing with said wheel and carrying a sheave, and a rope over said sheave for actuating it together with said worm and wheel to rotate said element for actuating said opposite side suspenders for tilting said slats.

3. A Venetian blind having the combination of blind-functioning slats, means for supporting said slats including suspenders secured to one side of said slats, suspenders secured to the opposite sides of said slat, a rotatable element mounted above and at one side of the blind, one of said opposite side suspenders being secured to said rotatable element, said other opposite-side suspender having guiding means at the opposite side of the blind and extending therefrom to said rotatable element and being secured to said element, and mechanism for rotating said element to actuate said opposite-side suspenders for tilting said slats.

4. A line comprising a pair of slat supporting and tilting suspenders of indefinite lengths for producing Venetian blinds, and said suspenders being securedly assembled with a series of slat extension receiving devices, said line being severable in any required lengths for making blinds.

5. A Venetian blind having the combination of blind-functioning slats, tapes for supporting and tilting said slats, said tapes carrying fittings for securing the slats to the tapes, and each of said fittings being provided with an elongated tongue extending beyond the fitting and bearing against the underside of the slat for supporting it against sagging.

6. A Venetian blind having the combination of blind-functioning slats, a fixed guide at each side of the blind, a swingable guide being hinged to each of said fixed guides, each terminal of each of said slats having means adapted to slide in an adjoining one of said guides, each of said means carrying a slat supporting and tilting element, suspenders being joined to said elements for supporting and tilting said slats, and lifting ropes threaded through said elements.

8. A Venetian blind having the combination of m blind-functioning slats, a swingable guide hinged vat each side of the blind, each terminal of each of said slats having means adapted to slide in an adjoining one of said guides, each of said means carrying a slat supporting and tilting element, suspenders being joined to said elements for supporting and tilting said slats, and lifting ropes threaded through said elements.-

9. A line comprising a pair of slat supporting and tilting suspenders of indefinite length for 20 producing Venetian blinds, said suspenders being securedly assembled with a series of rigid transverse elements for sustaining blind functioning slats, and each of said elements having an opening for therethrough threading slat lifting ropes, said line being severable in any required lengths for making blinds.

iii. A Venetian blind having the combination of a fixed guide at each end of the blind, a slat supporting and tilting element in each of said. guides being slidable in the guide, and each-of said elements carrying a fitting for receiving the end portion 0! a blind functioning-slat.

11. A Venetian blind having the combination of a fixed guide at each end of the blind, a slat supporting and tilting element in each of said guides being slidable in the guide, and each of said elements carrying a fitting adapted for slidably receiving thereinto the end portion or a blind functioning slat.

12. A Venetian blind having the combination oi blind-functioning slats, a fixed guide at each side 01' the blind, a swingable guide being hinged to each of said fixed guides, each terminal or each of said slats having means adapted to slide in an adjoining one of said guides, each 01' said means ca yin a slat supporting and tilting element, and a flexible band at each side or the blind joining the fixed and swingable guides, secured to one of said guides and bearing against the other guide for closing the gap between the guides at said hinging for guiding the passage thereat of said elements.

' LOUIS KASAN. 

